Archives for October 2018

Benefits of a Thai Massage

There are so many benefits your mind and body will receive from getting a Thai massage. Taking care of your body comes in many forms. Exercise, hygiene, your diet, mental health, and skin care are some of the things that come to mind when you think about taking care of yourself. A Thai massage is a great way to treat yourself, relax, and get any tension in your muscles worked out. Some amazing benefits of Thai massages are:

pain management

immunity boost

improves blood circulation

increase in energy and flexibility

decreases depression/anxiety

help with digestion

ease in PMS symptoms

promote inner peace/relaxation

What to Expect

Depending on the establishment you visit the experience can be slightly different. I have had Thai Massages that include stretching and others that didn’t. If you have the option, I highly recommend finding a place that offers “Thai Yoga Massage” as it’s hands down the best massage when it comes to full spectrum benefits. If you have ever thought about getting one you might wonder what to expect. It will be different from massage techniques that you might be familiar with. Here’s what to expect :

When you walk in you will immediately notice that it’s quiet and peaceful. Turn your cell phone off, on silent or maybe just forget about it all together and leave it in your car. Take your relaxation time seriously and unplug for a bit.

They will take you to a private room and you can keep you personal items with you. You will usually be able to find a basket to hold your belongings in the room. Any clothing you decide to remove will be stashed in there as well.

A Thai yoga massage takes place on a large mat instead of a traditional massage table. This is a massage combined with deep yoga stretching. The mat is needed because this is more of an “active” massage.

Your massage therapist will join you in the room. Usually they will ask if you have ever had this type of massage before. If you are a first timer they will help guide you.

Let them know of any injuries you might have or any special areas you would like special attention. If your neck is killing you- tell your masseuse.

There is usually music or relaxing mediation music playing. Maybe essential oils, incense or candles depending on where you go.

It’s not good to stretch with cold muscles so the massaging is what is done first to loosen up the body and prepare your body for stretching.

Don’t hold your breath. Focus on your breathing and your body will respond better to being relaxed and stretched.

Every part of your body will be worked on. They will turn you on your sides and work up and down all sides of your body.

The pressure will hurt at times but this is where your breathing comes in. Breathe into the pose and pressure. You will feel better after. I promise.

Be honest if the pressure is too much. You don’t want to be in pain to the point where you are not enjoying the massage. There will be pressure but it shouldn’t be uncomfortable to the point of wanting to stop.

They usually do some sort of scalp and face massage near the end as well.

Drink lots of water after your massage to help flush out all the toxins.

A hot shower or bath is really nice for the muscles after a deep massage- take one if you can when you get home.

I have had dozens of massages before and most of them being Thai. Out of all the massages I have ever had, a Thai yoga massage has been my favorite. Your body will feel better and I guarantee that you will want to go back again. I try to get a massage AT LEAST once a month.

Take care of your body and your body will take care of you!

Have you ever had a Thai yoga massage before? If so, what was your experience?!

Airlines Without Free Bags

Traveling is expensive as it is. The holidays are even more expensive. Knowing which airlines allow a free carry on and knowing their policy upfront can help you save money. Spirit Airlines is one airline that offers competitively cheap flights especially during the holiday season. Spirit has a bad rap, and if you don’t know how to fly with them, it can seem like a really shitty airline to take. No free water, they will charge you to print out your boarding pass, no free peanuts, and especially no free carry on luggage. I have flown with them more than a dozen times and have perfected how to play their game. They fly almost everywhere, and when you need to save some money, they are the airline to use. I used them a few years back 3 weeks before a Chirstmas trip and saved hundreds of dollars. I’m here to tell you all the tips and tricks you will need so you won’t have to pay for luggage.

The Breakdown

This list is going to break down exactly what you need to do when flying with Spirit.

After buying your tickets download the Spirit mobile app. If you have access to a printer, you can print out your tickets otherwise make sure you have them on your mobile app or a copy in your email. They will accept all of these versions. DO NOT go to the airport expecting them to print out your boarding pass for free. They will charge you for that.

Spirit allows a free personal bag that must not exceed dimensions of 18 x 14 x 8 inches. I found a bag on Amazon that is within Spirits policy. This bag is only $12.99, and I highly recommend that you buy it. It has saved me hundreds of dollars in bag fees. My husband and I both have one. Click here to buy. It’s $30 one way for a single bag so you can do that math and see how smart of a buy this is.

I have used this bag for so many trips, and it never fails to carry everything I need. Learning how to be a minimalist traveler is a smart trick to adapt to. Bring only what you need. I spent 4 days in New York and even brought back new shoes and gifts in this same bag. You can make it work. Roll those panties and jeans up as small/tightly as you can! I promise you will be impressed by how much this bag can hold!

Ladies: stuff your purse into this bag when boarding your plane. I stuff my purse on top and zip it all up, and I can carry this bag on my shoulder so its an obvious “personal item.” I have never been stopped or questioned about my bag. It always fits (even if I have to smash it in) into their displayed box they have to make sure it passes as a personal item. It fits every time so there isn’t shit they can say! If it fits then it flys! FREE!

Bonus Tip!

Pack an empty water bottle and some snacks. You can fill up your empty water bottle once you get through security. Spirit will not provide anything free on the plane, so bring some stuff to get you through your flight. Otherwise, you can always purchase items at the airport before you board. They offer food/drinks in flight but nothing, not even water, is free.

The Folding Bag That Will Save You Money!

I wanted to give you a visual of this bag so you could get an idea of exactly what it is. It’s a foldable duffle bag that is extremely lightweight. It folds into itself and turns into a small square that is great for storing! When unfolding this bag, it becomes large enough that you will be able to fit everything you need for your trip! We understand that if you are flying out of the country that you might need a little bit more than this bag can carry. Raynita will be doing a packing tutorial for out of the country trips. She is a pro at getting everything she needs into a roller carry on suitcase. Be on the lookout for that!

Foldable empty duffle bag!I took three standard size pillows and stuffed them into the duffle to give you an idea of what it can take!Duffle packed with the three pillows! Still extra room in there! You can get an idea of the size based on the comparison with the hairbrush. LOTS of room!The front pouch has a zipper that you can take the entire bag and fold it into itself. When empty and folded up..this is the outcome! Pretty cool right?!

I hope you found this article helpful! I am all for saving a buck, and if it takes me flying Spirit sometimes then that’s what I’m gonna do! Now that you know what to expect and how to play their game I hope you will take this advice and save yourself some money. Traveling during the holidays is supposed to be fun and not more expensive then it needs to be! Happy traveling! For more traveling tips click here!

Escaping Through Reading

Books are a great way to escape. Whenever I start reading a new book, I get out of my head, and the world around me fades. Some books have different impacts on you than others, but some special ones have the ability to change the way you think. I have always loved reading especially for this purpose. I have so many favorites, but these five books changed the way I viewed things in my life. They are ones that I have marked up with notes, dog-eared the crap out of and recommend to others. There’s something special about finding a unique book that can change your perspective.

5 Books That Will Change the Way you Think

1) The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer : This book will change the way you view yourself, your thoughts and your journey through this life. This book helped me see things in a different light. It helped me to understand that I’m not alone in the way I think and feel. It discusses the Self and the Ego and helps you break down walls you might not have realized you had up. If you are looking for a read that will take you on a ride to discovering your inner Self and Soul… then this book is for you. You can purchase it here.

2) Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama: This book took me a while to get through. It was one that I kept re-reading chapters, and I highlighted passages throughout the entire text. It’s a little bit more of a difficult read regarding breaking down the information. There are so many useful, insightful and thought-provoking paragraphs in this book. It breaks down the Self and how to truly find peace of mind. This book introduced me to zazen, and it also breaks down how to properly meditate. One of my favorite passages from this book, ” This is what a true spiritual practice is about: not spirit or mind separated from the body and the world, but a true way of life. This is what zazen is- a practice of living out the fresh reality of life.” This will always be one of my most cherished and beloved books. You can purchase it here.

3) The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck by Mark Manson: It’s no secret that ‘fuck’ is one of my favorite words so yes, I was at first sucked in solely on the title. And yes, fuck is used quite often throughout the book as well. This is a nice, easy and entertaining read. It’s a self-help book without really feeling like a self-help book. It reminds us that we all have problems but the choices we make depends on whether or not those problems define us. It talks a lot about the psychology of people and that all of us..are well.. fucked up on some level. Pick and choose what is worth giving a fuck about. “And if you go around giving a fuck about everything and everyone without conscious thought or choice- well, then you’re going to get fucked.” You can buy this gem here.

4) Peace Is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh: This book is a breath of fresh air. It’s a light and easy to read. From discussing conscious breathing to different types of mediation, love, compassion, and looking inside yourself. This book is a beautiful read and will make you happier reading it. It makes you stop and think about just how lucky and beautiful the present moment is. Things are not always as bad as they seem, it’s all in how you react to situations. “Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile.” Pick up a copy here.

5) Recovery by Russell Brand: I originally bought this book to help understand the addiction that someone I love is battling with. I started this book with an open mind but didn’t think that within the first chapter that I would be learning about my own addictions. When we think of addictions, we typically think drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. But, there are endless addictions out there. Social media, food, negative ways of thinking, shopping, and gambling, are all addictions and just the tip of the addiction iceberg. I did the exercises in this book and wrote down things I wanted to change about myself. Not only did I get to see things from an addicts perspective but I always learned things about myself that I didn’t view as addictions. Russell Brand is raw and honest, and I truly enjoyed this book. He has a clever spin on the 12 step program, and I highly recommend this book.Even if you aren’t an “addict” you can still learn greatly from this book. You can grab it here.

Conclusion

There are millions of books on millions of different topics. You can download books on your phone or tablet, get audio versions or the classic hardcover or softcover editions. The options are endless, and there is something out there to quench your thirst for knowledge. These five books are just a few of my favorites, and hopefully, they will peak your interest. Please let us know if you have read any these or share your favorites with us! I always love getting new reading material!